Three days. That’s all the time Dwight Powell had from the moment his mom was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer until her sudden death in 2012.

Only 20 years old, he had just started playing for Canada’s men’s national basketball team that summer. Standing 6 feet 10 inches, he had been a dominating player at Stanford University, where he was known for tough defense and an uncanny ability to see the court. His mother, Jacqueline, dreamed of him playing professionally.

“When she called, I could hear in her voice that she was not well,” he said.

After telling her to go to the emergency room, he put everything on hold and headed straight to the airport.

“Until then, she hadn’t shared the fact that she was sick because she didn’t want to burden me with her fight,” he said. “She didn’t think it was as serious as it turned out to be.”

When she died, Mr. Powell lost his biggest fan. After graduating from Stanford in 2014, he was selected by the Charlotte Hornets as the NBA’s 45th overall draft pick. Now in his 10th year as a center and power forward with the Dallas Mavericks, he joins an elite group of only six other players who have been on the team’s roster for a decade or more.

While acknowledging he couldn’t have made it to the NBA without his mother’s support, he credits a network of friends and mentors who kept him on track.

“My college teammates and coaches stepped up and provided me with a much-needed structure and vision that made sure I continued to accomplish the goals both my mother and I had envisioned for me,” he said. “A few of the things that my mom and I talked about have actually come to pass. Her legacy and influence are still with me.”

Mr. Powell’s experience solidified a desire to help families dealing with a parent diagnosed with cancer. To ensure they had the same kind of support and opportunities he had received, he created the Dwight Powell Children and Family Support Program at UT Southwestern’s Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center.

“At the time of my mother’s passing, I really didn’t have any money,” Mr. Powell said. “So everything to do with the funeral service and transporting her body from Boston back to Toronto was only possible thanks to the support of my friends and their families.”

His career in the NBA gave him the chance to give back.

Started in 2018, the Program helps families of cancer patients who don’t have the resources for what is often a stressful and overwhelming experience. Thanks to his generosity, the fund has grown, distributing almost $500,000 in aid to an increasing list of hundreds of families.

“Cancer stretches a family in every way – physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and financially,” said Alexandra Huffman, a licensed clinical social worker and the Simmons Cancer Center’s Assistant Director of Support Services. “If finances were tight for a family before cancer, we want to anticipate that treatment may strain a family’s finances even more and help them develop a workable plan.”

“To think that a child would fall behind in school or miss out on an extracurricular opportunity because of cancer is heart-breaking. I can put myself in their shoes.”

According to the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, more than 60% of cancer survivors reported being in debt because of their treatment.

“From the moment of diagnosis, our care team assesses the whole patient to understand what resources will help manage their unique challenges related to cancer,” Ms. Huffman said. “For some, that means immediate help with living expenses, whether it’s nutritious meals the whole family can eat or covering the utility bill for a period of time.”

Since its creation, the Dwight Powell Children and Family Support Program has helped financially with transportation assistance for the cancer patient or their family or caregiver; rent assistance; cleaning services for the family’s home; home repairs; prepared food and meal delivery services; and fees associated with children’s activities, like swim lessons or soccer uniforms. Simmons Cancer Center also supports patients parenting through cancer with workshops on employment benefits, advance care planning, and talking with children about cancer.

“When I was coping with the loss of my mother, I had some people around me who were able to support me, but not everyone is that lucky,” Mr. Powell said. “To think that a child would fall behind in school or miss out on an extracurricular opportunity because of cancer is heartbreaking. I can put myself in their shoes.”

Recognizing how families struggle with cancer, giving back is how Mr. Powell makes a difference. And the impact is clear.

“There are countless stories of families that have been able to benefit from this fund, and that’s something we take great pride in,” Mr. Powell said. “I feel we’ve done the best job recognizing the unique needs of each family and how support can look very different depending on the situation. In most cases, this is the most difficult period of their lives. So, I see every form of support we’ve provided as crucial.”

While he could have established a similar program anywhere, he chose Dallas.

“UT Southwestern has an incredible reputation here in Dallas and across Texas,” he said. “We knew we could trust the institution and that everyone there understood our vision for the fund. I’m happy to say that after years of partnering with UT Southwestern now, not only was it the right decision, but they far surpassed our expectations. Through incredible services and top-of-the-line facilities, UT Southwestern is continuing to redefine the patient experience in amazing ways.”

Deprived of a long goodbye, to this day Mr. Powell reflects on his mom’s influence.

“After losing my mother, my close friends constantly reminded me that she would have wanted me to be the best man I could be for her,” he said.

While that has meant standing tall on and off the basketball court, it has also meant standing in other people’s shoes.

“People we all know have been touched by cancer,” he said. “I think it’s important – in these times especially – that we develop a greater empathy for each other. For me, that’s the biggest motivation: to understand how other people are living and how they feel, and then to do whatever I can to help.”